FBI, Postmen Still Stumped By Holiday GI Check Thefts

FBI and local postal authorities remained adamantly silent yesterday on their pursuit of at least eight of veterans' checks pilfered from House mailboxes during the vacation recess. Wilbur J. Bender '27, Counsellor for Veterans, admitted the University was "baffled" by the problem last night.

Four government checks were taken from Leverett House, probably the largest haul, although some thefts may still be unreported. One House member expressed surprise that Leverett's all metal mailboxes seemed more attractive to crackers than Winthrop's or Dunster's glass protected containers.

Sole lead emerged from the testimony of two other Leverett men, who remained in Cambridge over the holidays. Last Friday the pair, who wish their names withheld, claimed they heard a banging noise on the bank of mailboxes outside their door.

Rushing out, they caught a glimpse of a fleeing man whom they presumed had taken alarm on being interrupted. Apprehended after a few blocks of uncertain pursuit at a trotting pace, the suspect turned out to be a graduate student of the Class of 1942, who has still to explain his evening's activities satisfactorily.

All boxes were intact in Winthrop House after a 7:30 o'clock checkup last night, and the house janitor on duty declared that no robberies had been discovered. He recalled an Adams House felony several months ago, however, where the check was "lifted" without smashing the box.

The technique used involved a specially contrived hocked instrument, which "fished" the $90 note out through the slit. This method, he conjectured, would be particularly effective if the check rested on a stack of Christmas cards and other uncollected Yuletide communications.

Bender stated the College authorities had foreseen possible check raids at the beginning of the term, but that it had been impossible to alter distribution methods because of Veterans' Administration rules.